1 of 5 stories today, things are picking up. I was lost for a month or so there, now like buses the news is flooding in. More good news to follow please, kit, transfers in, pitch.

Are regular people allowed to attend these or is it just LGB?

Quite ironic that the slogan reads "this is everyone's game", but they LGBTQ+ specific sessions.

yeah agree Europa it would seem discrimination only works one way

try reading it again; just because you're straight, they won't turn you away!

do they do these sessions for straight people then? honest question as could be quite fun?

as long as you're an allie, you can go to this. otherwise check out the foundation website, see if you fancy any of their other programmes.

alternatively there's plenty of other groups in town

would seem that holding special sessions for particular types of people would be divisive, not inclusive. Although not technically excluded, few straight people are going to feel comfortable there. Maybe they feel the need for it because of their preconceptions about football.

How is outreach sessions to minority groups divisive? Have a read of the Equalities Act 2010. Essentially treating everyone equally is far from being fair, that's why there are reasonable adjustments in the workplace - does everyone need a screen reader? An adapted chair? Space for a wheelchair? Additional flexibility with hours? Adapted hybrid working? It's about equalising the opportunity, not treating everyone in the same way.

Aside from that the alphabet soup of LGBTQ(UIA) does include the A - ALLIES = those who do not identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans*, Queer/Questioning, Undecided, Intersex - but has friends and/or a strong empathy with the community are welcome as well. It's also why we opted for 'rainbow' as the name - it would avoid discussing which letters to use, the alternative 'Pride/Proud' is already used in Norwich.

The fact there are challenges to the validity of the sessions reinforces the need for them. There has been a lot of progress, but there is still work to do. For inclusivity we're already far behind the Norwich City supporters group, but we are progressing and hopefully this year we can catch up or even better them - just like what we hope for from the first team.

Fair enough mate

"The fact there are challenges to the validity of the sessions reinforces the need for them" some circular logic there. I think you will find that there are a lot of people who will welcome gay people on equal terms. I'm pretty sure that being gay is not a disability, so your explanation for why special sessions are necessary does not hold up. The club really doesn't need to do anything other than state that they don't tolerate physical or verbal abuse and act on any incidents. They don't have to affirm a lifestyle or a political group.
I'm not an ally to my gay friends, I'm just friends with them and we're not friends because they are gay. It is offensive to my gay friends to be singled out for special treatment or particular abuse. They just want to lead normal lives.

if you have gay friends then you're an lgbt ally, embrace it!

it's great that all your gay friends feel they can come along with you to one of the many options available. however, if any of them (or your female, older, overweight, disabled, younger friends or those with mental health issues) would feel more comfortable with a different environment, then it's great that this is also on offer

It's depressing to see so many ignorant posts on here. Straight people such as myself have never been made to feel excluded. The whole point is to include those who have been made to feel unwelcome. It's like the nonsense about gay or black pride being awful because we don't have straight or white pride…. It's because straight and white people haven't been told
To be ashamed for being so.

It's depressing to see so many ignorant posts on here. Straight people such as myself have never been made to feel excluded. The whole point is to include those who have been made to feel unwelcome. It's like the nonsense about gay or black pride being awful because we don't have straight or white pride…. It's because straight and white people haven't been told
To be ashamed for being so.

Correct - it isn't a disability, but both are 'protected characteristics', as are race and gender. Where protected characteristics are underrepresented it is acceptable and often desirable to have outreach projects to encourage them to engage more. A successful example of this is the anti-racism campaigns - while racism hasn't been eliminated for football, it is certainly much less tolerated now.

If any heterosexual male or female feels excluded from these sessions, then imagine how it must feel being a gay/lesbian/trans football fan.

I say this as a white, middle-aged heterosexual male. I'm glad that I have enough empathy and confidence in myself not to see these sort of things as threats or in any way unfair. My sexual orientation (or skin colour) has never proven an obstacle in any aspect of my life. How lucky I am.

Why go looking for issues? It's ridiculous.

Anyone's opinion is valid, because it doesn't align perfectly with yours doesn't make it ignorant. I think too much time and thought goes into dividing people into different groups and focusing on the difference between us- gay/straight black/white etc. The point is it doesn't matter what you are. I get what you are saying in a way but various groups of people saying 'we are all x, this is our x day' just seems a bit unnecessary. I dont think these days anyone is telling people to be ashamed of being Gay, and if they did, they'd rightly be shut down immediately.
Perhaps in their shoes I would feel differently

@troyparrotsleftear - some good points. I'd add the importance of having 'safe spaces'. Being gay, mixed race and disabled does mean I have extra barriers yet I don't want 'special treatment', just ask for equality in opportunity. Having a safe space enables some who feel they need to hide their true selves otherwise, it also offers social opportunities and the chance to openly talk about relevant feelings and barriers with others who might not be likeminded but have many of the same barriers. I would criticise the word 'shame' in the way it was used, it's better to say 'the shame imposed by some people in society'.

A simple example of where equality isn't here yet - if a heterosexual couple were in a bar before a game, had a beer, a quick kiss and snuggled up together it wouldn't really be noticed. If a same sex couple did the same there would be 'looks', some might add how they support how strong they are, others might criticise either within their own group or through confrontation. It's easy to see how they would be treated differently. It will take time before we're just seen as couples rather than 'gay couples'.

Marcus I really appreciate you expressing your opinions in a respectful manner. Even people on here are calling people who don't completely agree with them ignorant or bigoted. That in itself is ignorant and bigoted.
I am fine with the club telling people how to behave when they come to watch football, but I personally draw the line at telling people how to think or feel about things. Actually, I think it is entirely unconstructive. If you tell people how to think they are just going to resent you and they might even end up with a more negative view of the particular group. The best way to gain acceptance and respect is to just be a normal person who happens to be gay or whatever.
I wonder, how are you going to start cracking down on 'looks'. People who don't like public displays of affection like that might also give a similar look to a straight couple, or the gay couple could be wearing Norwich shirts and the person giving the look found the shirts disgusting. Fair enough, it more often than not could be that the looks are because the couple are gay, but the point is that it's not that straight forward.
Like it or not, but anyone who is an LGBT activist is political, even the term "ally" makes it sound like you are fighting a war. So even if you would call me an "ally" I would take offense at you calling me that.
We might have talked about this before, so forgive me if I'm repeating myself. Pride should be reserved for something you have done rather than something you are. You should not be proud that you are gay, straight, white, black, born into wealth, or whatever. I find celebrating white pride, black pride, gay pride or whatever unearned pride to be wrong regardless of where you are on the progressive stack.
Having special sessions for a particular group is the very definition of special treatment. You shouldn't be happy to be segregated. Why can't all football sessions be safe and inclusive? It makes it sound like you have the LGBT and ally sessions and other sessions for the homophobes. I don't know what it would take for your "equality in opportunity" to be achieved.

the club aren't "telling people how to behave", they're offering different options which people can choose to come along to or not.

if your lgbt mates are happy to come along to one of the other sessions then they're welcome to. others have had bad experiences of homophobic abuse when playing or watching football and may prefer a more structured and safe environment. that's not taking anything from me or you or your lgbt friends, it's just another option if people want it.

europa - there's a difference between segregation and a safe space. Segregation is when those external to the minority force them into a space, a safe space is created by a minority to enable themselves.

Some of the replies to this are staggering, worth noting those users who still live in the dark ages!

troyparrot's left ear - these sessions are for regular people. With your homophobic attitude, you probably wouldn't be welcome at any session.

Good to see Phil Ham still doesn't do anything about bigotry in the comments.,

Hey campag, sorry you feel thy way. Perhaps you should re read the title of the article, might help?